Beloit Snappers at Lansing Lugnuts
April 22nd, 2004
| Beloit |
|
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
0 |
9 |
0 |
| Lansing |
|
|
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
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0 |
1 |
X |
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|
2 |
6 |
2 |
E-Chirinos, Francisco, LOB BEL-9, LAN-4, 2B-Larsen 2, HR-Collins, SACB-Walker 2, SB-Rick, CS-Heether
HBP-Collins (Kloosterman), PB-Rick
T-2:01, A-3,752
Beloit Daily News
Despite nine hits and no errors, the Beloit Snappers came up on the short end as the Lansing Lugnuts won Thursday's Midwest League game, 2-0, at Oldsmobile Park.
A solo home run from Kevin Collins and an RBI single from Robinson Chirinos proved to be the game's lone tallies.
Beloit's Greg Kloosterman (1-1) took the tough loss. He went seven innings, allowing just one run and four hits, while striking out eight.
The Snappers stranded nine baserunners while the Lugnuts left just four on base.
Lansing's Billy Petrick (2-0) picked up the win. He threw six innings and allowed five hits and a walk. Adalberto Mendez pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his sixth save.
Adam heether and Manuel Ramirez each had two hits for Beloit (5-9). Collins and Drew Larsen both had two hits for Lansing (9-5).
Lansing State Journal
by Eric McKinney
What a difference a year has made for Kevin Collins
The Lugnuts first baseman/left fielder is off to a torrid start at the plate, leading the team in home runs and RBI. He has the second best batting average.
Collins is a big reason for Lansing's 9-5 start, with his most recent contribution coming in Thursday's 2-0 win over the Beloit Snappers. His 4-2 foot blast to straightaway center provided the winning run in the second inning.
"He's been big for us," Lansing manager Julio Garcia said. "Last year he got off to a rough start and he had a hard time making it up".
Collins hit just .114 through the first 14 games of 2003, and finished with a .225 average. But he displayed plenty of power, leading Lansing with 14 homers.
He's hitting .333 with four homer and nine RBI through 14 games this season.
So what's different this year? "We cut his movement at the plate in half, which in turn keeps his head still so he can see the ball better." Luguts hitting coach Mike Micucci said. "Last year Kevin had a pretty big leg kick and his head was all over the place. He's got so much power he dosen't need to do a whole lot of movement to create it."
Simplifying the swing has also helped Collins cut down on strikeouts. He whiffed 116 times in 306 at bats (37.6 percent) in 2003, compared to just 11 times in 42 (26.1) this season.
I'm just seeing the ball really well," Collins said, "I've worked a lot on slowing my approach down, just working the count a little deeper and trying to get some good pitches."
And Thursday's shot certainly proved he hasn't lost any power. It also provided all right hander Billy Petrick (2-0) needed to pick up the win.
Petrick gave up five hits and a walk over six innings. He struck out two.
Second baseman Robinson Chirinos added an RBI single in the eighth for insurance and Adalberto Mendez pitched the ninth for his sixth save.